Report on the Blood Donation Drive

Branding Committee Chair　和田 佳久

On Saturday, June 10, the Community Service Committee, Public Image Committee and Branding Committee jointly held a blood donation drive at the South Exit of Shinjuku Station. Blessed with good weather, we exceeded our goal of 100 people with 101 visitors (88 of whom were actually able to donate blood).
We sincerely thank all the members who donated blood or helped call for donors, as well as the club office staff.
Member A casually called out to young people, “Hey, why not donate some blood?” (apparently his experience chatting up girls at discos in his student days came in handy). Member K raised his voice above the bustle of Shinjuku (he said he was glad that the voice he is usually told is “too loud” finally proved useful). And a member of the club office staff somehow drew young people in just by standing still holding up a “Blood Donation” sign. Watching everyone working hard to call out to passersby, each in their own style, I felt I had glimpsed the very essence of Rotary activity.
Also, I met a woman donating blood for the first time who said, “Rotary helped me in the past, so when I saw the Rotary sash, I decided to donate blood.” It made me realize that this activity is contributing to our club's branding and public image.
Amid the blood shortage, this activity was greatly appreciated by the Japanese Red Cross Society. We hope to continue this activity, which gives us a real sense of service, and ask for your continued cooperation.